Taxi Language - South Africa

July 2007
With limited public transport in Johannesburg, residents rely on minibus taxis. But don't expect them to stop for you unless you have an in-depth knowledge of taxi sign language. On any street corner in the townships of Johannesburg, you'll see people gesticulating widely. "Pointing your finger up means you want to go to the city", explains one woman. "If you want to go to the station you have to move your arms like a train". But to other drivers, Johannesburg's 50,000 private taxis are the bane of the city. "They suck", states one woman. "They're rude and don't obey the traffic rules".

Produced by ABC Australia
Distributed by Journeyman Pictures

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• Taxi
• South
• Africa
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[angeloscity]

rilloud....im Filipino and Dominican....im what they call ''other'' in the race classification....im asian and hispanic.....i guess u are ''other'' or multiracial category, like me....when i say whites are reducing in numbers in the US...i mean the blonde hair blue non hispanic whites........get it?..good, now go live your life .....

[freddyfrogish]

Same story across africa,minibus taxis that is.However I have seen some crazilly designed ones in Nairobi blaring the loud music,recklessly zig-zagging from lane to lane.

[bloodstone256]

seems extremely confusing for everyone

[09feb1992]

@Dessalines I know about taxis in South Africa lol. I used to live in Durban and caught a few in my time lol. But I'm saying that in Durban, most taxis look like they are from "Pimp my ride" (e.g. loads of speakers, boombox, sticker on the outside, disco lights inside, cool rims and big exhausts) and they also put a sign by the windscreen to show their destination (almost like a real bus).

[Dessalines]

@angeloscity This guy is just stupid. I was just there and had no problems.

[Dessalines]

@09feb1992 They are not that bad. It is much easier to get a taxi in Joburg than in 95% of US. There are these bus taxis and taxis that you call. These bus taxis run routes and are more like mini buses.

[09feb1992]

Wow Taxis in Joburg are worse than in Durban. I mean look at them. No stickers, 20 speakers, subwoofers, rims etc. Also, don't they have signs to where they are going? Like buses or in Durban?

[sqwarkaqua]

The South African government is FUCKED up i would know i live in SA.

[angeloscity]

@Microglia1 .im both..............

[IZAKILIZM]

@mcveigh83 T RARING ITS HEAD TO BITE THEM FOR THEIR WRONG DOINGS. LORD KNOWS THAT AFTER 94 I WOULD HAVE BEEN FREAKED OUT CONSIDERING THE THINGS THAT WENT DOWN. I THINK AFRIKAANERS (BOERS) SHOULD RETHINK THEIR POSITION IN SA'N SOCIETY. THEY FORM IMPORTANT PARTS OF IT THERE'S NO NEED FOR THEM TO FEAR FOR THEIR LIVES JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE ON THE SAME PLAYING FIELD AS EVERYONE ELSE NOW.

[IZAKILIZM]

@mcveigh83 WHAT U MUST BE SMOKING SOME POWERFUL ISH, GENOCIDE OF BOERS. HEHEHEHE R U KIDDING ME, THEY FACE THE SAME ISSUES EVERY SOUTH AFRICAN FACES WHEN PEOPLE COMMIT CRIMES ON THEM. IMAGINE IF THE COLOURED OR THE BLACK COMMUNITY CALLED THE MURDERS AGAINST THEM SOME TYPE OF GENOCIDE. NO OFFENCE TO THOSE PAST I AM NOT MAKING TRYING TO TRIVIALISE THEIR DEATHS BUT TO CALL IT GENOCIDE I FIND TO BE AN EXAGGERATION. MAYBE ITS SOME AFRIKAANERS CONSCIENCE'S TAKING THEIR TOLL AND THE FEAR OF THE PAS

[CatBird16]

There are different signals for each city :) Aaah I love my country :)